The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is rehiring some of the roughly 700 employees who were laid off earlier this month, with a focus on those in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). The unit reviews and approves medical devices like pacemakers, X-ray machines, and ventilators.
The mass layoffs caused concerns over the agency’s ability to ensure patient safety. “Most, if not all” of the laid-off employees are being asked to return to their jobs, according to sources. Steve Silverman, a former FDA device official, praised the shift in direction, saying it recognizes the critical expertise of the staff.
Medical device manufacturers benefit from having scientists on staff who can quickly approve products. However, since most of the CDRH’s $791 million annual budget comes from private companies, the layoffs didn’t significantly impact the agency’s bottom line.
The FDA recently rehired 89 staffers in its foods division, following a resignation by Jim Jones as head of the unit. The move comes after billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE (an investment app) was forced to rehire employees who managed various critical services, including nuclear stockpiles and national crisis lines.
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fda-medical-device-doge-fired-rehired_n_67bdf3d0e4b0659288fe2ff4